Developed by the AMA and the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics (NCHPEG), the goal of this program is to improve the primary care provider's ability to identify, evaluate, and manage patients at increased risk of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC). This program was funded in part by unrestricted educational grants from Myriad Genetics and Humana, and by the Veterans Health Administration contract #VA200P0034.

This program is divided into four modules: Assessing Risk, Genetic Testing, Risk Communication and Counseling, and Screening and Surveillance. Each module entails a series of patient scenarios that focus on the goals of that particular lesson. Participants will have access to point of care tools that will help in completing the activities and questions in the patient scenarios, and can also be downloaded and printed for use in practice. The program covers the most common hereditary CRC syndromes: Lynch syndrome and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and Attenuated FAP. Working through short case studies, participants will practice identifying, evaluating, and managing patients with hereditary CRC syndromes. The program also provides strategies for counseling patients before and after genetic testing, approaches to communicating risk, and tools to help in collaboration with a genetic or other specialist.

Should you have any questions regarding this activity please contact Katie Johansen Taber at katherine.johansen@ama-assn.org or 312-464-4964.

Identify surveillance and management strategies for patients with, or at risk for developing, colorectal cancer.

Target Audience This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of all primary care physicians, but is also appropriate for other specialists such as gastroenterologists and surgeons. Other non-physician health care providers, such as genetic counselors and nurses, may find the activity beneficial.

Statement of Need Guidelines developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American College of Gastroenterology have outlined risk assessment, genetic testing, and management strategies. There is a demonstrated need for physicians to become more knowledgeable about hereditary CRC and the established guidelines for managing patients at risk.

Statement of Competency This activity is designed to address the following ABMS/ACGME competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, and interpersonal and communication skills.

Accreditation Statement The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement The American Medical Association designates this enduring material for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure Statement In order to assure the highest quality of CME programming, and to comply with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, the AMA requires that all faculty, planning committee members and members of the AMA CME Program Committee disclose relevant financial relationships with any commercial or proprietary entity producing health care goods or services relevant to the content being planned or presented.

Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention (EGAPP) Working Group (2009). Recommendations from the EGAPP Working Group: genetic testing strategies in newly diagnosed individuals with colorectal cancer aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality from Lynch syndrome relatives, Genetics in Medicine, 11(1), 35-41.

US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Adenomatous Polyps, 2008: A Joint Guideline from the American Cancer Society, the Screening and Surveillance for the Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer and Radiology (2008). CA: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 58, 130–160. Accessed December 6, 2010 from http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/reprint/58/3/130